> In the lists of differences between primates and> humans one never sees "Humans deliberately alter the physical appearance
of> their bodies", but I believe this is in fact a distinguishing feature.

When I first started my research, I approached it from a nature culture
opposition, and although I find it to be an aspect of the process, I think
that it is much more about creating definitions of self and other (which
could incorporate self as human, animal as other) - be they individual self,
village, family, community, culture, state, nation, continent, world. This
seems to be applicable in every culture I've looked at.